Zaitseve, Mayorsk and Avdiivka remain the hottest spots in the entire combat area

44 attacks on Ukrainian positions took place over the last 24 hours, ATO Press Centre reported. The enemy used mortars and large-caliber artillery banned by Minsk agreements; four artillery strikes were landed upon outposts of the Armed Forces near Zaitseve and Mayorsk, Donetsk region.

Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka also went under fire; though, attacks of Russia-backed mercenaries were repelled.

The illegal armed units of pro-Russia militants also fired at positions near Luhanske, Novhorodske, Leninske, Opytne, Shyrokyne, Troitske and Maryinka.

Previously, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of Russian President Putin, denied that the Russian military took part in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.